A COMMUNITY leader is urging a town council to take on more voluntary staff in a bid to cut down on expenditure.

Cllr Mike German claims residents in Prestatyn have had enough of “wild extravagances” and “white elephants”, and says those charged with controlling public purse strings should do so with care.

His comments came after Prestatyn Town Council were asked for their ideas on how they intend to develop in the coming years.

Town clerk Nigel Acott, in a report to elected members, has revealed that, due to resources, the authority is unable to continue at its current levels of growth.

“I believe that the council should investigate the opportunities of engaging with the retired, unemployed and voluntary sector further in the matters of staffing,” said Cllr German.

“Already we are benefiting from volunteers with the healthy communities walking schemes.

“If we are successful in recruiting suitably qualified unpaid voluntary help it would demonstrate that the council can still evolve and grow but still deliver an efficient service.”

He added: “Some of the benefits that come to mind are the opportunities for unemployed persons gaining job experience which would support their future applications for full-time paid employment.”

Mr Acott, in a document that went before the town council last week, revealed that the authority had been extremely successful in drawing in external funding.

However, he claimed, due to a lack of specialist expertise and personnel shortages, it was becoming increasingly difficult to deliver projects on time and with safe levels of service.

“The hard-pressed public taxpayers have seen many examples of wild extravagances and white elephants and are now insisting that those they entrust with discharging the public purse do so efficiently and thriftily,” said Cllr German.